For all the W123 300D owners out there, at what MPH does your trans shift at? I am trying to determine if my '77 is shifting correctly - as, from what I can tell, extremely high revs starting around 65MPH .... so at highway cruising speeds, I feel like the car is about to explode ....

Mine shifts at 20MPH and then again at approx 40MPH. That's it.

Thoughts?

Thanks, as I am still relatively new to the car.

-graham

Mine shifts (1981 300d) at 24 mph and again apporx 40ish..i try and maintain her AMAP but i think i read on here the first shift of 25 mph is good, not sure whats good on a second shift as you accelerate...

D

Thanks D. So, sounds like my shifting is normal ... I just wanted a second opinion. The rev's just seem high to me. .....

-graham

Remeber, a diesel's efficiency peaks in the high RPMs.

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1989 300E 144K

This is a pretty common fear among new 123 owners... Its normal that it sounds like it's revving high on the highway. Takes some time, but you will get used to it. As long as you feel it shift through all the gears, and you know that it is in 4th when you are on the highway, and it is clearly not slipping, you should be just fine.

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1981 300CD 260k w 60k on new motor
1983 240D 4spd Manual

I totally agree with mistergood..nothing like pulling up to a rice burner and the wonderful diesel sounds making NOISE under your hood...mine sounds like its gonna take off a runway at 80 MPH...WHOOO HOOO!!! Now if I can ever getthe a/c issues down..summers almost over....HOT!

Yeah, I think I am feeling it shift through all the gears. It only shifts twice, around 20 and at 40 - and has a slow take off, which is because it starts off in 2nd gear, right? It doesn't slip otherwise .....

but here is something interesting, here is a post from a 300D owner that says that his car shifts three times. My last shift point is around this fellow's middle shift point. Why?

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=194352


Thanks guys!

-graham

I think it's because they are talking about newer models that are vac operated. Yours (and mine 77 300D) run off a linkage{no vac}. Yes it does start off in 2nd gear unless from a dead stop, stomp it to the floor and "click" the kick down switch.Should feel the click. Then it should start out in 1st. Mine has the same shift points as yours and I also "feel" that it's reving to fast at Hwy speeds but have been told that this is normal. Wish I had a tac.... sure would make me feel better Guess it's just something I need to get used to

__________________
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
-Arthur C. Clarke

"I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people. I require the same from them."
--John Wayne.

OBK member#16
77 300D
75 300D (rusty parts car)
73 220D (Dad's)
98 Jeep Grand Cherokee
82 Kawasaki M1

Ok, thanks kernelpanic. I guess then '77 was the last year of the non-vac, as he mentioned his being a '78.

Thanks for the replies .....

-graham

I believe there are several sets of dots on the spedometer, each one marks where the transmission should shift when you start from a dead stop and floor it. Try it out, mine shifts within about 3mph of the dots. (You might not have the dots though, mine is much newer). If they shift in the right spots then your transmission is probably fine.

Old auto trannies can shift really hard sometimes, its just how they are in every car ive driven that had more than about 180k miles on it. One way you can mitigate for it is by easing off the pedal a bit at the right moment to make it shift sooner, if thats what you want I do it all the time in my car, so much so that i dont even think about it anymore. You get used to it.

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350